Argentina showed their total domination yet again on Saturday as they completed their clean sweep in the Pan-American Championship, this time claiming the scalp of Canada to the tune of 62-22 in Buenos Aires.
Los Pumas ran in nine tries in total, and having beaten the USA and Uruguay earlier in the competition, they were the emphatic tournament winners.
Canada meanwhile end up in third place behind the USA, while Uruguay finish bottom, having failed to win a single game.
But it is the form of the Pumas which may be of more significant global interest. One of the undoubted form sides in world rugby at present, they seem to have found their scoring touch, which they will need for tough pool matches against Australia and Ireland come October and November time.
Argentina scrum-half and captain Agustin Pichot opened the scoring for the Pumas early on with a try in the corner, but Canada actually had the lead when Leeds Tykes fullback Winston Stanley broke through to cross the line.
Gonzalo Longo and Ignacio Fernández Lobbe added tries for the hosts after both sides had exchanged penalty kicks, before Castres lock Lobbe then being barged over for a second try for a 27-10 half-time advantage.
With Canada's Sean Fauth in the sin-bin, Argentina made the most of their numerical advantage with a three-try blitz, with scores coming from fly-half Felipe Contepomi, wing José María Nuñez Piossek and back row Rolando Martin, all converted by Contepomi.
Kevin Tkachuk then went over from a Canadian rolling maul to show that the visitors were not lying down altogether, but Pumas wing Piossek sped over for his second, followed by replacement lock Rimas Álvarez soon after.
Canada's Australian fullback James Pritchard then ran the length of the field to score a try as the end of the game approached, with his coach David Clark hailing the never-say-die attitude of his men.
"Nobody else scored 22 points against them, and we scored three good tries, one of them to end the game," said Clark.
"There was some very good, hard driving forward play which was very pleasing against a team that is renowned for that kind of stuff.
"Argentina is a very skillful and well organised side. Pichot is the master of direction and they have a very fine back-line. I could see them playing in the semi-finals of the World Cup."
The Teams:
Argentina: 1 Roberto Grau, 2 Mario Ledesma Arocena, 3 Omar Hasan Jalil, 4 Patricio Albacete, 5 Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, 6 Rolando Martin, 7 Santiago Phelan, 8 Gonzalo Longo Elia, 9 Agustin Pichot, 10 Felipe Contepomi, 11 Diego Albanese, 12 Lisandro Arbizu (c), 13 Jose Orengo, 14 Jose Nunez Piossek, 15 Juan Martin Hernandez
Reserves: Rimas Alvarez Kairelis, Ignacio Corleto, Martin Durand, Gonzalo Quesada, Martin Scelzo
Unused: Nicolas Fernandez Miranda, Federico Mendez
Canada: 1 Rod Snow, 2 Pat Dunkley, 3 John Thiel, 4 Mike James (c), 5 Colin Yukes, 6 Jim Douglas, 7 Jeff Reid, 8 Josh Jackson, 9 Morgan Williams, 10 Bobby Ross, 11 Sean Fauth, 12 John Cannon, 13 Nik Witkowski, 14 Winston Stanley, 15 James Pritchard
Reserves: Garth Cooke, Ed Knaggs, Mark Lawson, Kevin Tkachuk, Matt King, Ryan Smith
Unused: Ed Fairhurst
Referee: Veldsman s.
Points Scorers:
Argentina
Tries: Nunez Piossek J.M. 2, Contepomi F. 1, Pichot A. 1, Fernandez Lobbe C.I. 2, Longo Elia G.M. 1, Martin R.A. 1, Alvarez Kairelis R.E. 1
Conv: Contepomi F. 7
Pen K.: Contepomi F. 1
Canada
Tries: Pritchard J. 1, Stanley W.U. 1, Tkachuk K. 1
Conv: Ross R.P. 2
Pen K.: Ross R.P. 1
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